With over 20 years of experience covering the Steelers for the Observer-Reporter, Dale Lolley will let you know the insider scoop. Dale can also be heard on the Steelers radio network pre-game show on WDVE-FM game days and Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on ESPN 970-AM and WDVE during the season as a host of the Antonio Brown Show. Follow him on Twitter at @dlolleyor

27. Indianapolis, Filli Moala, DT, USC – The Colts need to beef up the interior of their defensive line.

28. Philadelphia, Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State – The Eagles get a big back to pair with Brian Westbrook.

29. New York Giants, Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia – The Giants would have preferred one of the top WRs fall to them and like Kenny Britt of Rutgers, but they’ll settle for Moreno as a replacement for Derrick Ward.

22 comments:

Fili Moala and Connor Barwin in Rd 1? I was watching the NFL Network the other day and someone mentioned they are not even sure that Barwin knows what position he is going to play. Round 1 project to AZ? I just don't see it.

I'd say Sanchex before Freeman but it almost doesn't matter, they will go close to how you have them either way.

Miami taking Mack? I never thought of that one, but the problem is they just gave Grove some serious money. Maybe at G for Mack or Grove? And I don't think Miami will pass on Nicks.

I also think the Eagles will trade up somewhere in the 1st and try to get Donald Brown via trade again in the 2nd.

And the Wood pick for Pittsburgh I've mentioned, don't love it at 32, but don't hate it.

I'm an Eric Wood fan, but I see the Steelers making a trade up in Rd. 2 to get him (moving up 10-15 picks). I think he's a mid-2nd guy.

If the draft fell the way you have it here I'd be shocked to see the Steelers pass on Eben Britton. I'd personally also have Jarron Gilbert ahead of Eric Wood with Alphonso Smith about on par with Wood, maybe a bit ahead of him.

My biggest dilemma was whether to take G Louis Vasquez with my first 5th round pick rather than A.Q. Shipley, but the Steelers seem to have taken a liking to Shipley. Vasquez is a huge guard with great strength that played mostly in a pass blocking offense. He might not have the versatility that Tomlin wants in his OL, though.

If Jarron Gilbert's production in college matched his workouts, then he would be a top 5 pick and he wouldn't even be in discussion for for the no. 32 pick. Still, his numbers last year were pretty good -- 52 tackles with 30 being solos (and 22 stops for losses to lead the nation), 9.5 sacks.

My argument for selecting him is he not only plays a position of need, but he is coming to your team from day one at 6'5'', 290-lbs with that athletic ability and will be coached by probably the best 3-4 DL coach in the league. He can also learn under Aaron Smith and B. Keisel while eating up some snaps to help keep them fresh for later on in the year.

I like Woods, but you can get a center later in the draft. DL like Gilbert with this type of ability and upside don't come along very often.

Since you feel Shipley won't be drafted, then I'll replace him in my mock with Louis Vasquez out of Texas Tech. He was not only the strongest guard in the bench press at the combine, but he also ran a 40 at his pro day that is in the top 8 for guards in this draft.

Some people might look at it as a negative that Vasquez played in a spread passing offense at Texas Tech, but I don't. It is a lot easier to work on a lineman's run blocking than pass blocking (Chris K. is a good example). I don't think Ben would mind having a 6'5, 325-lb guard that already knows how to pass protect. He might be able to help make up for all of the blocks Chris K. misses in his one one pass protections.

And if the Steelers want Woods so badly, why not just trade up in the second round to get him? Centers will fall in the draft before DT's will, especially 3-4 DTs.

Good points all. I trust this front office to make the best choice at no. 32 for this football team going fwd. If its Wood, Mack, or CB Darius Butler, they have earned the benefit of the doubt.

I think they would have to trade up in the 2nd round to get either Gilbert or Fioala from USC. I think they could sit tight in the second round and still get an good OL if they addressed DL in round one.

I honestly don't know, it seems like after the Smith/Monroe/Smith Oher group the onlinemen drop off to Beatty, Mack, Britton, and then another drop off to Wood and Unger. After that I hear names like Vasquez and then I am lost, I don't know the draft that well or that deep to know what OL might be there at 32.

I do think this though: that it has been really popular for teams to take an olineman, especially tackles, early (Baker, Brown last year). The Steelers don't seem to care for trends though. If the Steelers take Wood at 32 I would equate that with the Patriots taking Mankins a few years ago in the same spot. No one saw him as a 1st rounder, but the Patriots liked him and it has seemed to work out. I think the Steelers will take him if Mack is gone and there are no good trade scenarios or a highly rated CB left.

I also think that the Steelers haven't drafted a DL in the first since Hampton, and you can make the argument that fat guys are easy to find, but thats just not true for our NT. While the Steelers have not had success at 3-4 ends in the later rounds (Orien Harris, McBean), I still don't see them using 32 for a 3-4 DE. Late 2nd sounds more like them.

And since I like to think ahead with the draft, since the Steelers don't play rookies often (see my thoughts about ILB as a possiblity) I also don't rule out S Louis Delmas. From what I've seen and read about this guy, he screams Steeler and we know Ryan Clark is entering his last year (unfortunately in my opinion). Give Delmas a red shirt year like Polamula had and in 2010 we have a ridiculous safety tandem. And this is where everyone says if you would take Delmas, you should take a CB, or they just don't think Delmas is a 1st rounder. I actually even think Delmas might be gone by 32, he seems to be rising.

My Rd 1 wish list:1) Trade up for Mack, or if he's there at 32, obviously2) a miracle happens and Oher is there (yeh right I know)3) a miracle happens and Tyson Jackson is there ( again with the wishful thinking)4a) Beatty4b) Wood/Delmas/Butler/ A. Smith or S. Smith5) (this is the Steelers lose their mind and draft a WR scenario) Percy Harvin, what can I say, I miss a guy with Randle El type of explosion and gadgets.

Also, being a college football freak, I've been checking every possible mock draft and have seen a few with Victor "Macho" Harris falling to the Steelers in the second round. I would LOVE that pick. He played both corner positions in college and was pretty darn good. His ball skills are very good and i would really like to see him in black n gold.